Control apparatus



June ll, 1946. L. 1 CUNNINGHAM 291,361

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1942 2 SheetS-Sheet 1 June 1E, 1946. l.. I .lcuNNlNGl-IAM 2,401,861 I CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25,' 1942 2 Sheets-$11961'I 2 :inventor:

Gtfotneg.

Patented June 11, v1946 UNITED STATES PATENT omes- Application AllgustZS, 1942, Serial No. 456,008

8 Claims. (Cl. 236-86) My present invention relates tocontrol apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for controlling fluid pressure in accordance with the variation of magnitude of a controlling condition. This invention, in certain respects, may be characterized as an improvement upon the inven- 'tion disclosed in my copending application, Serial Another object is the provisionin a systemv of the character described, and wherein the condition-responsive valve-operating means is in the form of a confined body of uid, the pressure of which is varied by temperature, or by mechanical means such as a piston-of means whereby the eiect of variation of pressure of the valve controlled fluid is applied to the conditionresponsive fluid in a sense-'opposing the maintenance of such change of pressure. 1

Another object is the provision, in a system'of the character described in the preceding object, of means, including a yieldable partition separating the condition-responsive uid and the valvecontrolled fluid, whereby the condition-responsive fluid is rendered also responsive to the pressure of the valve-controlled iluid which it` controls.

Another object is the provision of a system of the character described in the preceding object, wherein the yieldable partition, separating the condition-responsive and valve-controlled iiuids, consists of the convoluted portion of an expansible-contractible cup-shaped metallic bellows; the distortion or breathing of the convolutions, when the bellows is subjected to dii'- ferential pressure, affording the requisite degree of yieldability. vAn allied object is the provision of means for adjusting the position of the bellows head andthereby the capacity of the chamber containing the condition-responsive fluid.

Another object is the provision of asystem, of the general character described and including a yieldable partition separating the controlling and controlled fluids, wherein the valve means is so arranged that variation of pressure vof the conr 2 tion `of pressure of the controlling fluid .which caused the first-mentioned variation.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will be found in the description, the drawings, and in the claims; and for complete understanding oi the invention reference may be hadA to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a mainly-schematic view of a iluid pressure control system embodying my invention;

'Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged views of like sideportions of the adjusting device indicated at 29 in Fig. 1, illustrating (in an exaggerated manner) the distortion of the bellows undervaryingpressure conditions;

Figure 4 is a simplied schematic View of the fluid pressure control ysystem shown in Fig. 1; and

trolled fluids acts on the partition in a sense tend- Figure 5 is -a similar view of modified form of the fluid pressure system.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral I I indicates a valve casing having an inle't I2 and an outlet I3 separated by a partition portion It which is bored to provide a control passage interconnecting the inlet and the outlet; the passage also extending through the top and the bottom wall of the casing. The lower extension of the passage I5 is enlarged and threaded to receive a plug I6 having a cylindrical recess for a closure member I1, the tapered upper surface of which is urged, by a compression 'spring I8 below the member, into engagement with avalve seat I9 formed aroundthe control passage I5 at the underside of the partition I4. Sealingly mounted on the top surface of the valve casing is an inverted cup-shaped housing 20, within which is a generally-'cylindrical metallic bellows 2| having a convoluted side wall. 'I'he bottom end of the bellows is secured, as by solder,

to the housing, and its top end is similarly secured to the head 22 of a stem 23 *which extends downwardly within the bellows and through the upper extension of passage I5. The lower extremity of stem 23 is adapted to engage the top of closure I'I, the portion of this stem within the control passage IB being reduced in diameter so as not to impede fluid flow throughthis passage. The space between the housing 'and the bellows is filled with liquid 2l and forms part -of a sealed thermostatic system to be described further hereinafter. Urging the stem 23 upwardly is a spring 25 compressed between the stemor bellows-head 22 and the casing; downward movement of the stem being limited by a sleeve 28attached to the head 22. Formed as an extention of the inlet passage l2 is another passage 21, the enlargement of the lower extension of passage I per# 'mitting unobstructed communication between the passages vI2A and'21 around the closure I1.

The passage 21 communicates, byv a pipe 23, withv the interior of a vessel generally indicated at 29 and comprising a lower cup-shaped section '33 on which l.is sealingly threaded a cap section 3i. Within the lower section 30 is a metallic .bellows 32 which is soldered at its upper end to a washer 33 clamped between the lower section and the cap 3l;l the other end of the bellows -the thrust member 35 anda gland ring 33 provided around the inner upper end portion of the rod 3B. For rotating rod 36, a hollow knob 40 is attached to its head portion 31. By adjustment of this knob, the thrust member 35 can be moved upward or downward to vary the capacity of the chamber 4| formed between the lower section 30 and the exterior of the bellows 32, including its head 34. This chamber communicates with the space between the valve bellows 2| and housing 20 by interconnected pipes 42 and 43, secured respectively in openings through the lower section 3B and the housing 20, and is illled with the same liquid 24. It is to be observed that the bellows 32 is notadapted to expand and contract along .its axis (as does .the valve bellows 2|) in normal operation on account of the force of spring 38 .acting on the thrust member 35, the head 34 of which also constitutes the head of bellows 32. The spring 38 servesas a safety strain release and is of such stiilnessthat it does not yield except under excessive pressure ofthe liquid 24 caused by some abnormal condition which will not be considered in the description of operation.

The interior of the bellows 32 and of the' cap section 3 I, being in constant communication with v the inlet. I2 ofthe valve casing, is lled with the fluid (indicated by the numeral 44) supplied t0 the valve ;'this iluid, throughout the system, be'

ing shown by heavy broken lines to distinguish it from the liquid 24 which is shown by light broken lines. The iiuid 44 is, in the present instance, considered to be a 1iquid (such as the oil 'commonly employed inthe hydraulic system of an airplane) contained in a reservoir 50, from which it is -withdrawn by a continuously-opera ated pump 5I and forced through pipes 52 and 53 to the-inlet I2 of the valve; the liquid returning to the reservoir, when the closure I1 is' un.

seated, through a pipe 54 connected to the valve outlet I3. A flow-restricting member 55 is inserted in pipe 52; and a relief valve B6, connected to the high-pressure side of the pump, serves to determine the maximum pressure in the hydraulic system.

By way of illustration, the system thus far de'-4 scribed is shown, in -the upperportion of Fig. 1, connected to control temperature' conditions in the "pressurized" cabinof an airplane. A blower 51 is arranged to circulate air selectively around a Cooler" (operated by outside air) or a Heater (operated by exhaust from the engine) and through the "Cabin" (these structures being indicated by legends) according to the demand or vis anotherfluid pressure motor 4 temperature responsive means comprising a plurality of thermal bulbs 58 and 33, connected in common; these bulbs being'conveniently located in the air-outlet 60 of the cabin and in the outside air, respectively. The blower 51, which also As shown in the drawings, the damper 63 is in fully-closed position and the damper GII` fully open. For operating the damper shaft 65 there is provided a uid pressure motor 36 comprising a cup-shaped housing 61 containing an expansibleccntractible bellows 68 which is joined at one end to the housing wal1 and at its other end to the head of a stem S3 which extends within the .bellows and through a guide opening in the lefthand end wall 10 of the housing, the extendedl end of the stemjbeing 'connectedto a crank 1I attached to the end of shaft 65. The area withinA the housing aroundthe bellows andbeyond the head of stem '69 communicates with a pipe. 12,

which is an extension of the high-pressure supply pipe 52', so that the uid pressure in the motor 66 is determined by ,the4 position of the closure I1 with respect to its seat; maximum pressure bemg exerted in the motor when the closure is seated. acting on the bellows head is opposed by the forceJ of a spring. 13, the stem .in its movement accordingly assuming a position 'wherein these forces are balanced; movement of the stem in a left-hand direction being limited by the engagement with the motor end-wall 10 of asleeve 14 which surrounds an inner portion of the stem,

the parts being shown in that limiting position in the drawing. Also connected to the pipe 12 15 which is vsubstantially identical in construction with the motor 66; they parts of motor 15 therefore being'indicated by the numerals assigned to the corresponding partsv of motor 68, but with a prime mark added. The only dinerence betweenthe motors 38 and 15 is in theirsprings, the force of spring 13' being considerably greaterthan that of spring 13. its spring 13', so that movement of stem 89', due to increase' of iluid pressure can occur only after stem 39 of motor 66 has reached its4 limiting posi'. tion, as shown. Connected to the outer end of stem 39' of motor 15, by a crank 16, isa damper 11 which is adapted to control the supply ofexhaust gas to the cabinheater; this damper being shown in the drawings in slightly-opened position. For the purpose o! describing the operation of the cabin temperature control system, shown in the upper thermal bulbs ishigh, there is minimum uid pressure in the motors IB and 15 and atingstems are therefore retracted, so that the. damper armis in a position 90 from that shown. Damper 63 then being open and damper The pressure of the liquid 44 The motor 15 is "pre-loaded" by y th'e temperature at the their oper- Y 64 closed. air passes to the cabin around both th'e cooler and the heater; however, since damper 11 is closed, no heat is supplied to the heater and the air (which is usually quite warm as it leaves the blower or supercharger 51) is cooled. With resultant fall of temperature at the thermal bulbs, the fluid pressure in the motors is increased and the sten`1`69 of motor 66 is moved outwardly, the damper sh'aft 65 being rotated to a position wherein damper 63 is partly closed and damper 64 partly open, some air now passing through the by-.pass duct 62 and less air passing around the cooler. If the cabin temperature continues to fall, the stem 69 of motor 66 finally reaches itsl limiting position (as shown) wherein passages of air around the cooler is completely obstructed, all the air passing through' the bypass duct. Still continued fall of cabin temperature now effects opening of the heater damper 11 by motor 15, this motor being so preloaded (as was described) that movement of its stem 69 can occur only after the stem 66 of motor 66 has reached the limit of itsloutward travel. The heating of theV cabin is now solely under the control of motor 15 which serves to vary the amount of engine exhaust gas supplied t0 the heater, according tol the demand of the temperature responsive means.

Before describing the operation of the fluid pressure control system shown in the lowerportion of Fig. 1, the effect of fluid pressure difference on opposite sides of the convoluted side wall of a bellows will be considered. This effect is shown, in an exaggerated degree, in Figs. 2 and 3, which' are fragmentary views of the lower left-hand portion of the regulating device 29. When the pressure of the fluid 44 within Athe bellows is greater thanthat of the fluid 24 at its outer side, the convolutions are vdistorted as shown in Fig. 2; the effect of reversal of th'ese pressures being shown in Fig. 3. This distortion is referred to in the bellows art by the term breathing and has heretofore been considered as productive of no useful result. However, in the present invention, advantage is4 taken of the fact that, due to this phenomenon, limited variation of capacity of the chambers defined in part by the bellows side wall is effected by variation of differential pressure thereacross.

The operation of the fluid pressure system shown in Fig. 1 can better be described by reference to the simplified equivalent showing of Fig. 4. In this ilgure most of the parts have been assigned the same numerals as those of the clearly-equivalent parts shown in Fig. l (th'ese numerals in Fig. 4, however, being primed) and either direction when subjected to differential' pressure. The diaphragm 90 (or the convoluted side wall of bellows 32) constitutes the yieldable partition or wall, referred to in the claims,

which separates the chambers containing the control fluid 24 and the fpressure fluid 44.

The positions of the par-ts, as shown in Fig. 4, are those assumed when the closure I1' is in close proximity' to its 4seat I9 so that but `a small amount-of the fluid 44 can circulate in the direction of the arrows. Th'e pressure drop across the seat is therefore high and the pressure of the fluid 44' throughout the system correspondingly high, so that the motor piston 81 is in partly-projected position. If th'e temperature at the thermal bulb 85 rises, the resultant expansion of the fluid 24' effects downward movement of the closure I1', thereby reducing the pressure of the fluid 44' acting upwardly on the diaphragm 90. The resultant downward flexure of this diaphragm increases the volume, or capacity, of th'e space in which the fluid 24 is confined, so that either direction effects'a change of pressure below the diaphragm such th'at the closure `movement which produced the change is checked. Of course, this pressure-follow-up effect does not prevent continued movement of the closure if the temperature at the thermal bulb continues to change in spite of the effect produced on the temperature-changing means (the cooler or heater of Fig. 1) by the operation of motor 86; the closure, in response to continued rise of temperature, finally reaching a position wherein (due to the limited flow permitted by the restriction 55') the pressure drop across the valve seat is negligible and the pressure of the fluid.44 therefore substantially atmospheric, so that the piston 81 ofmotor 86 is in its fully-raised position. If the temperature at the thermal bulbbecomes very low, the bellows stem 23 rmes out of engagement with the closure so that the same is h'eld tightly on its seat by the pressure of the fluid below it and maximum pressure is therefore applied to motor 86. Within the normal range of operation, there is continuous flow of fluid through the valve, and th'e pressure of the controlled fluid is an inverse function of the temperature-regardless of change of viscosity of the controlled fluid (if the same is a liquid) since the effect of such change (upon the pressure of the fluid) is applied to the diaphragm 90 in a sense tending to adjust thev closure to a compensating position.

Calibration of the temperature-responsive fluid system is Veffected by rotation of the knob 40 of the regulating device 29 shown in Fig. 1, whereby,

v as was previously mentioned, the capacity of the chamber 4| (which forms part of this fluid system) can be varied.

'Ihe pressure fluid 44' controlled by the valve is preferably liquid, but, if desired, may be of the elastic type suchias air-at either superatmosph'eric or subatmospheric pressure. If a va'cuum pump is substituted for the positive pres- .sure device 5|',the closure and valve seat are then so-arranged that downward movement of the bellows head effects closure of the valve, the position of the flow restriction. being correspondingly changed. Likewise, the temperature responsive fluid 24 is preferably thermoexpansi've liquid, so that th'e pressure' produced-by it on the movable wall, or bellows head, is substantially directly proportional to the. temperature; however, if desired, a charge of vaporizable fluid may be substituted.

The modified form of fluid'pressure control system shown in Fis. 5 is generally similar to that g uid in said one of 7 hereinabove-mentioned copen'ding application, Serial No. 454,387. In this system, a closurel |00, operated by the pressure of tluidf|| above a bellows |02, is arranged to control the fluid |03 circulated, in the direction of the arrows, by a pump |04. The pressure of the controlled iluid |03 acts on the underside of the bellows head and thereby produces a pressurefollow-up eiect somewhat similar to that c lescribed in connection with Fig. 4; downward movement, for example, of the closure eiiecting increase of pressure of the controlled fluid act'- ing upwardly on the bellows head, so that movement o1 the closure is checked-it being assumed that, if the uid l0| above the bellows is liquid, some portion of the wall of its container can yield to permit the requisite slight upward movedisclosed in my I ment of the bellows head. It has been found that vwhen the volume ofthe chamber wherein the control fluid is confined is relatively large, -on account of the compressibility ofthe fluid (even if the same is liquid) or the inherent yieldability of the chamber wall,'the differential of operation of the closure,'produced by the follow-up action of the controlled iiuid, may become excessive. To reduce the degree of this differential of operation, .the controlled fluid |03 is arranged to act also on a diaphregm or partition |05 which forms part of the wall of the chamber for the control iluid I0|. The effect of the upward pressure of the controlled fluid on this diaphragmA therefore opposes its effect on the underside .of the bellows head, and, by suitable proportioning of the area of the diaphragm, the desired degree of differential of operation can thus be obtained.

While I have herein shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, I wish-it to be understood that modification may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that I intend therefore to be limited only'by the scopeof the appended claims.

' I claimas my invention:

-chanically separate 8 peratmospheric pressure; means, including a iiow restriction, continuously connecting said scarce to said other of the chambers; a flow connection between said other of the chambers and the atmosphere; a throttling valve in said connection and operated by the movement of said wall; said throttling valve opening in response to increase of pressure of said control fluid so that the pressure in-said other of the chambers is then reduced and, by the yielding of said partition, the pressure in said one of the chambers is correspondingly reduced so that the movement of said wall is arrested; and control means connected to4 said other of the chambers and actuated in response to variation of iluid pressure therein.

3. In condition-controlled apparatus: means defining a pair of pressure chambers separatedv by a movable partition; one of said chambers being closed and having a movable wall mefroin said partition; control uid in said one of the chambers; means for varying thepressure of said control fluid,in accordance with variations of a controlling condition, to move said wall; meansaccessible from the exterior of said chambers for adjusting the position of said movable partition and thereby the capacity of said one ofthe chambers, a p0rtion of said partition being yieldable to a limited extent in response to variation/of uid pressure difference on the opposite sides thereof a source diiering from atmospheric; means, including a flow restriction, continuously connecting said source to said other of the chambers; a flow connection-between said other of the chambers and the atmosphere.; a throttling valve in said connection andoperated bythe l movement of said wall; said throttling valve operating, in response to movement of said wall in -a given direction, to effect such variation oi pres-l sure in said other of the chambers that, by the yielding of said partition-portion, the pressure in said one of the chambers is varied in a sense 1. In condition-controlled apparatus: means `dening a pair of pressure chambers separated by a yieldablepartition; one of said chambers being closed and having a movable wall mechanically separatefrom said partition; control iluid in said one of the chambers; means for varying 'the pressure of said control fluid, in accordance with variations o f a controlling condition, to move said wall; a source of fluid pressure differing from atmospheric; means, including a iow restriction, continuously connecting said source to said other of the chambers; a ow connection between said other oi'the chambers and the atmosphere; a th'rottling valve in said connection and operated by the movement of said wall; said throttling valve operating, in response to movement of said wall in a given direction. to eiect such variation of pressure in said other of the chambers that, by the yielding of said partition, the pressure in said one of the chambers is varied tending to arrest such movement of the wall; and control means connected to said other of lthe chambers and actuated in response to variationof fluid pressure therein.

4. In condition-controlled apparatus: means defining a pair of pressure chambers separated said partition comprising havingia convoluted side-wall and a rigid .endwall; one of said chambers being closed and having a main movable wall mechanically separate from -said partition; control iluid in said one of the chambers; means for varying the pressure of said control uid, in accordance with variations in a sense tending toarrest such movement of the wall; and control means connected to said other of the chambers and actuated in response tovariation of fluid pressure therein.

2. In condition-controlled apparatus: means deiining a pair of pressure chambers separated the chambers; means for.

of a controlling condition, to move said main' wall; means accessible from the exterior of .said chambers for adjusting the position of said bellows end-wall and thereby thecapacity of said one of the chambers; a source of fluid pressure differing from atmospheric; means, including aflow restriction, continuously connecting said source to said other of the chambers; a iiow con- -nection between said other of the chambers and the atmosphere; a throttling valve in said connection and operated by the movement o'f said main wall; said throttling valve operating, in response to movement of said main wall in a given direction, to effect such variation of pressurein said other of the chambers that, due to. the re'- sultant breathing of the convolutions of said side-wall oi the bellows, the pressure insaid one of/ the chambers is varied vin a sense tending to arrest such movement of 4the nain wall; and

9 control means connected to said other of the chambers and actuated in response to variation of tluid pressure therein.

5. In condition-controlled apparatus: means "dening a pair of pressure chambers separated -chambers for adjusting the position of said bellows end-wall and thereby the capacity of said one of the 'chambers; a source of fluid atsuperatmospheric pressure;` means, including a ow restriction, continuously connecting said source to said other of the chambers; a oW connection between said other of the chambers and the atmosphere; a throttling valve in said connection and operated by the movement of said main wall; said throttling valve opening in response t increase of pressure of said control fluid so that the pressure in said other of the chambers is then reduced and, due to the resultant breathing of the convolutions of said side-Wall of the bellows, the pressure in said one of the chambers is correspondingly reduced so that the movement of said main-wall is arrested; and control means connected to said other of the chambers and actuated in response to variation of fluid pressure therein.

6. In condition-controlled apparatus: means denlng a pair of pressure chambers separated by a movable partition; one of said chambers being closed and having a movable wall mechanically separate from said partition; control fluid in said one of the chambers; means -for varying the pressure of said control iuid, in accordance with variations of a controlling condition, to move said wall; a portion or said partition being yieldable to a limited extent in response to variation of iluid pressure diilerence on the opposite sides thereof; a source of fluid pressure -diilering from atmospheric; means, including a flow restriction, continuously connecting said -source to said other of the chambers; a now 1o t, bars and actuated in response to variation of fluid pressure therein.

7. In condition-controlled apparatus: means vdefining a pair of pressure chambers separated connection between said other 'of' the chambers and the atmosphere: a throttiing valve in said connection and operated by the movement of said wall; said throttling valve operating, in response to movement oi. said wall in a given direction, to eect such variation of pressure in said other of the chambers that, by the yielding of said partition-portion, the pressure in said one or the chambers is varied in a sense tending to arrest such movement of the wall; and control means connected to said other of the chamby amovable partition, said partition comprising an expansible-contractible cup-shaped bellows having a convoluted side-Wall and a rigid end-wall; one of said chambers being-closed and having a main movable wall mechanically separate from said partition; control iluid insaid one of the chambers; means for-varying the pressure of said control fluid, in accordance with variations of -a controlling condition, to move said main wall; a source of iiuid pressure differing from atmospheric; means, including a flow restriction, continuously connecting said source to said other of the chambers; a ilow connection r between Said other of the chambers and' the 'atmosphere; a. throttling valve in said connection and operated by the movement of said main wall; said throttling valve operating, in response to movement of said main wall in a given direction, to eiect such variation of pressure in said other of the chambers that, due to the resultant' breathing" of the convolutions of said side-Wall of the bellows, the pressure in said one of the chambers is varied in a sense tending to arrest such movement of the main wall; and control means connected to said other of the chambers and actuated in-response to variation -of uid pressure therein.

8. In condition-,controlled apparatus: means dening a pairiof pressure chambers separated by a movable partition, said partition comprising an expansible-contractible cup-shaped bellowsy having a convoluted side-wall and a rigid endwall; one of said chambers'being closed and having a main movable wall mechanically separate from said partition; control uid in said one of the chambers; means for varying the pressure of said control fluid, in accordance with variations of a. controlling condition, to move said main wall; a source of fluid at superatmospheric pressure; means, including a now restriction, continuously connecting said source to said other of the chambers; a ow connection between said other of the chambers and the atmosphere; al

throttling valve in said connection and operated by the movement of said main wall; said throttling valve opening in response to increase of pressure of said control iuid so that the pressure in' said other oi the chambers is then reduced and, due to the resultant breathing of the convolutions of said side-wall of the bellows, the pressure in said one-or the chambersis correspondingly reduced so that the movement of said main 'wall is arrested; and control means connected to said other of the chambers and ac-v tuated in response to variation of fluid pressure therein.

LEWIS L. CUNNINGHAM. 

